KADIWA NG PANGULO. Shoppers take advantage of low-cost agricultural goods and food products at the Kadiwa Center located at the BPI Multipurpose Hall in San Andres, Malate, Manila on October 17, 2024. On December 6, 2024, the Department of Agriculture announced a collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment to enhance the nationwide rollout of the KNP program. (Photo by Yancy Lim/PNA)
MANILA – In a strategic move to broaden the reach of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) initiative, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has entered into a partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
This collaboration was cemented through a memorandum of understanding that outlines the integration of the KNP with the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP).
As part of this alliance, DOLE will supply additional personnel to assist with the operations of KNP.
“Our goal with this collaboration is to foster more sustainable livelihoods and enhance the availability of affordable agricultural products,” stated Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. in a recent announcement.
“The Kadiwa ng Pangulo, a cornerstone initiative of the Marcos administration, remains a vital lifeline for Filipino communities. Through such partnerships, we are committed to extending its advantages to the most underserved groups,” Tiu Laurel added.
The Kadiwa ng Pangulo program, including its Rice for All and P29 initiatives, provides Filipinos with access to more affordable rice and other agricultural products like vegetables, meat, and fish.
The Rice for All initiative sells mixed local and imported well-milled rice at PHP40 per kilogram to the public, while the P29 initiative offers aging yet quality National Food Authority (NFA) rice at PHP29 per kilogram to vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), and solo parents.
In addition to manpower support, the partnership will connect accredited suppliers and farmer cooperatives with Kadiwa outlets.
Beneficiaries will also receive technical assistance and capacity-building support, alongside plans for further expansion of both the KNP and DILP programs.
The DA has set a target to establish approximately 300 KNP centers in 2025, with ambitions to reach 1,500 by the end of the Marcos administration’s term in 2028. (PNA)